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Living overseas

Oz, Dubai, UK where oh where shall we go (if anywhere)

12 replies

Sibble · 06/02/2008 06:20

We live in NZ, have been here 5 years from London. As many of you know I hated the first 4 but now love it here. I have friends, Boys have good school and day care. We have the ultimate lifestyle, 11 acres, pool , beach house, 30 mins from Auckland. BUT dh has decided he doesn't like his job!!! HE wants to go back to London. While I miss my family I don't think living in Chignford where we would be going back to would offer the boys as much as they have here. I suggested Oz (we have friends there and easily do'able from a work persepective. He thinks Dubai, keep the mortgages here, make some money and retire in a few years. I've heard the cost of living and greed gets to you in Dubai, While this may come to nothing (fingers crossed) what do you think. Oz. Dubai or home or any other suggestions for blokes in building would be appreciated!

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escape · 06/02/2008 06:58

Well, I've only been in Dubai 6 weeks, so obv. not an expert..what I do know is that all the master developers use labourers from other countries paying them next to nothing - totally ignorant really, but tell me - is there aplan of how to make loads of money??
there would definately be money in providing anything to do with the millions of developments here, but not the actual construction itself. housing is incredibly expensive. we have just bought yesterday (fingers crossed) my huge mortgae is cheaper than renting for better quality housing!

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BrownSuga · 06/02/2008 07:10

Engineering is well paid in Dubai, but cost of living has gone up 60-80% in the last 3 years, so you'd want a good deal. (A friend has been there 3 years he's staying there so must be ok financially)

Same for oz really, it's getting very expensive mainly from housing POV. We've been looking to move, but it's less money than uk salary, and rent is more than our mortgage here.

Best bet is for your DH to actually look at jobs/conditions, then make a decision.

For lifestyle alone I'd choose Dubai.

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ninedragons · 06/02/2008 07:50

What about Hong Kong? I have an Australian friend in the construction industry (though he's been seconded to Beijing on an Olympics project) and he makes more money than he would if he had a press in his back shed running off US$50 notes day and night. I'm not sure exactly what he does - he works for one of the big multinational construction firms.

The HK lifestyle is fabulous (if you make heaps of money), tax rates are low, schools are brilliant, crime is practically zero. It's also VERY convenient for travelling (except to the Americas) and you'd be amazed how quickly you can get used to nipping off to Cambodia, Malaysia or Thailand for a long weekend

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Sibble · 06/02/2008 17:51

Hmmm, hadn't considered Hong Kong. Usually travel home through there. He has until recently worked for big multi-nationals hence the 3 options we thought of, foot in the door kind of thing. I actually hope it comes to nothing but might suggest HK to him. Certainly alot closer to home than here although the heat is a bit off putting but I guess it's hot in Dubai .

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Expectant · 10/02/2008 01:28

You might also want to consider Singapore if you are considering Hong Kong. We've been here just over a year now although we're both in banking and not construction. There is a huge amount of consruction going on here. The lifestyle is great, it is safe, schools are good (so I hear - we're expecting our first in August) and it is cleaner than Hong Kong (in my opinion). It is hot here though and pretty much all year round too - but not something I have too much of an issue with at the moment although when I get to 7 or 8 months I might feel a bit differently!

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Starmummy · 11/02/2008 03:36

Hi escape, waves from the Meadows. where are you in Dubai? We have been here almost a year and whilst I enjoy it and am never short of visitors from home I'm not really sure it offers a better lifestyle than other places. We have travelled around to Oman, the East Coast and futher afield (only so much spare time)lol. The cost is becoming soooo expensive. We looked at buying and couldnt raise the 20% deposit with liquidating most of our UK assets. The work is well paid and allegedly tax free (all sorts of charges creeping in) the cost of living is rising almost daily.

Back to the op - my DS (12) plays out obviously, goes to the movies and the malls with his friends. There are loads of kids in our street but all much younger. Its a good community life with pools in almost every little area. Abso zero chance of them doing anything by themselves as public transport is non existent. We do have buses but not to any expat areas. We consider it to be much safer than the UK, but we are not daft, you see people leave there keys in the cars and the engine running whilst they go in the shops or leave their handbags in the shopping trolley, I worry what happens to them when they go home.

We love the camping, sailing genreal sunny lifestyle, summer heat is 50 degrees! and the humidity is drenching. It is clean, has no real culture to speak of but again they are trying, we get orchestras, plays, famous singers etc, exhibitons but you have to seek it out, its not as openly accessible as in other countries.

Hope that helps, if you want more info or extended/clarification opinion let me know.

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escape · 12/02/2008 05:12

HiStarmummy - waves from hotel room near marina. well, we've been gazumped twice in the past ten days! We are trying to buy at the ranches, no offence to meadows, the floorplans and finishes, plus value far outweigh rgwe location issue, well, especially when its your own money! yes, wasn't expecting to have to find 15% deposit either. we are looking at houses I would pay no more than £275,000 in the uk, they are costing almosst triple that here. MY OPINION ON DUBAI IS OKAY - THER'S NOTHING 'WRONG' WITH IT PER SE, (SORRY CAPS LOCK) but after hearing what an amazing place it is from everybody, weather they had been or not, i'm feeling slightly underwhelmed - oh and also pissed of because they won't change my jersey driving license, so living in hotel for 6 weeks with 3 kids1 HO HUM!

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slim22 · 12/02/2008 06:40

Another wave from Singapore.
We've been here just under a year now. From London. Very nice lifestyle. Much better than Dubai or Hong Kong in my opinion.
They are on a massive construction spree here with lots of high end condos & office blocks expected expected to be built in the next 5 years to accommodate influx of expats.
Quite predictably cost of living on the rise but still offers much much better quality of than you'd get in London.
For kids, what can I say, I suppose you know the drill already, being in NZ. How can you possibly compare with London?
The schools have fantastic facilities, they spend a lot of time outdoors. The waiting lists are getting scary like in HK though so that's something you want to sort out sooner rather than later. My DS1 goes to the british school and I'm advised to put baby on the list as soon as it pops out in May.
And last but not least, you have dozens of fabulous holiday destinations a couple of hours flight away!

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Starmummy · 14/02/2008 04:09

Hi escape

so We have visitors at the mo, no time to get on the board. How old are your DC's? Sorry you have been gazumped. somebody I knew took to carrying around a wodge of cash to pay the deposit as soona s they saw what they wanted (wtf??) Anyway I agree I really like the Ranches, but Meadows 1 is just 5 mins to work for both DH and me (yah). That makes a whole lifestyle difference for us. And you're right it is okay, nothing wrong but nothing to write home about (that'll be because finding a post office is so hard!)
Bad lauck about the licence, is it because it doesnt say the same as your passport. If so I know someone who got a copy of some doc saying jersey was same as UK and then all was ok. an d at least the weather has improved in the last few days. If you need any help let me know.

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Starmummy · 14/02/2008 04:10

Hi escape

so We have visitors at the mo, no time to get on the board. How old are your DC's? Sorry you have been gazumped. somebody I knew took to carrying around a wodge of cash to pay the deposit as soona s they saw what they wanted (wtf??) Anyway I agree I really like the Ranches, but Meadows 1 is just 5 mins to work for both DH and me (yah). That makes a whole lifestyle difference for us. And you're right it is okay, nothing wrong but nothing to write home about (that'll be because finding a post office is so hard!)
Bad lauck about the licence, is it because it doesnt say the same as your passport. If so I know someone who got a copy of some doc saying jersey was same as UK and then all was ok. an d at least the weather has improved in the last few days. If you need any help let me know.

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escape · 14/02/2008 18:35

Hey there. the kids are 6, 2.6 and 15mnths. the licence thing is just because they won't recognise it as british - DH is on to the letter from embassy thing, so by monday, should have some answers. funny you say about the wodge of cash - I haven't gone that far (it would have to be about AED 100,000)but am taking my chequebook and passport copy everywhere! we are running ut of options now. I want a five bed ideally, but they really don't come up in our budget, we ae on the cusp - can get the most expensive 4 beds, but need another coupla hundred grand for the five beds, Gah! very hot today! DS1 in Safa Nursery so just by Horizon school so that fits in v. nicely!. enjoy the weekend

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Sibble · 15/02/2008 05:21

Thanks all, some food for thought there. WIll come back and pick your brains if it comes to anything. Having moved once part of me knows that you get over it and on with it, the other part knows what a hassle the paperwork and actual move, finding schools etc is.

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